GaN charger

A GaN charger uses gallium nitride instead of the older silicon found in most traditional chargers. Gallium nitride conducts electricity more efficiently, which means less energy is lost as heat, and the charger's internal components can be packed more tightly. In practice this lets a charger deliver the same or higher wattage as an older charger while being noticeably smaller and lighter.

For one-bag travelers, this matters because a single small GaN charger with multiple USB-C ports can often replace two or three separate chargers for a phone, laptop, and other devices, saving both space and weight. Many GaN chargers also run cooler to the touch during extended charging, which some travelers prefer for overnight charging on a nightstand or in a bag pocket.

When choosing one, check the total wattage needed for your specific devices, since a laptop generally needs more power than a phone, and combined output drops when multiple devices charge from the same charger at once. A common mistake is buying a high wattage charger for a device that cannot actually accept that much power, which adds cost and size without any real benefit.